Typewriting machine



' L. C. MYERS July 3o, 1929.

NACHI NE TYPEWRITING 2 Sheets-sheet 1 Filed Dec. 23, 1927 July 3o, 1929.L. c. MYERS TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Dec. 23. 1927 2 Sheets-SheetPatented July 30, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,722,937 PATENT OFFICE.

L'EWIS C. MYERS, 0F FREEPORT, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ROYAL TYPEWRITERCOMPANY, INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

Applicationled December 23, 1927. Serial No. 242,165.

In power driven typewriting machines it is old and common a have all ofthe instrumentalities of the machine, such as the type action,escapement mechanism, and ribbon mechanism, operated by power, and' tohave the operation of t-he power controlled by a slight depression ofthe key lever. In other words, a very slight depression of -thelkeylever constitutes the whole of the work that is performed by theoperator. the remainder of the work being performed by the powermechanism.

In certain type actions, particularly that embodied in the standardRoyal machine, the amount of work involved in actuating the type actionis very slight, and the greatest resistance to the depression of the keylevers is that resultant upon the work necessary to operate theescapement and ribbon mechanisms.

The present invention relates to a construction in which the type actionis operated from the type key levers in the usual manner, while theescapement mechanism and ribbon mechanism are operated by power. Theusual actuator which operates these mechanisms in the Royal machine isor may be employed, but this actuator is not operated from any point inthe type action, as has previously been the case. A universal bar isemployed which is operatively connected to the type bars so that it willbe brought into operation during the latter part of the movement of thetype bar to printing position. The movement of this universal bar bringsinto operation a power actuated lever which is connected to theactuator, which, as above stated, operates the ribbon mechanism andescapement mechanism in the usual manner.

Further details of the invention will be apparent from the followingdescription and appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a fore and att vertical section with partsin side elevation through a typewriting machine embodying the presentinvention. Figure 2 is a similar view showing the parts in operativeposition.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the mechanism showing amodification.

Figure 4 is a rear view of the modification shown in Figure 3.

From a broad vpoint of view, t-he invention may be embodied intypewriting machines of widely differing character, but for the purposeof illustration it has been shown embodied in a standard Royaltypewriter' wherein it is of particular value. The drawings disclose aportion of a shift frame A upon which travels a carriage B provided withthe usual platen C, against the front of which strike type bars D, whichare pivoted in the usual segment E. Key levers F are connected by linksGrA to front links H, which in turn are connected by links I to the typebars D. The usual escapement mechanism K is employed, and the usualribbon vibrator M with its actuator N. An actuator L is positioned tooperate the escapement and ribbon vibrator in the usual manner.

A universal bar 1 is carried by arms 2 supported by a rock shaft 3, andthe universal frame thus formed is normally urged in one direction by aspring 4 which is attached to one of the arms 2 and tothe frame of themachine. The movement of this frame under the influence of the spring islimited by a resilient stri 5. Links 6 are connected at one end to t etype bars D and are provided at the other end with an open bend 7 whichis hooked around the bar l and normally at a distance therefrom, asshown in Figure 1. These links are guided in a slotted plate 8 carriedby the frame of the machine, which plate is provided with an adjustablescrew stop for limiting the return movement of the actuator L underinfluence of its usual spring.

Connected to the universal frame is one end of a link 10,l the other endof which is connected to one arm 11 of a bell crank lever fulcrumed at12 on a transverse bar 13 carried by the frame of the machine. The otherarm 14 of this bell crank lever is connected to operate a stop lever 23which controls a cam X and permits the same to come into operativeengagement with a rotary actuating element suchas a constantly rotatingshaft having a roller Y fixed thereon. This mechanism is substantiallythe same as that shown in patent to Dorsey 1,628,037, of May 10, 1927,and needs no further detailed description herein. It may be noted thatthe stop lever 23 is substantially or exactly the same member as thatdesignated by the same reference numeral in the patent just cited. Thispower mechanism has been selected for illustration, although it isobvious that some other form of power mechanism might beemployedinstead.

The cam X is journaled on a normally 1nactive operating bell crank lever15 which is pivoted at 16 in the frame member 13 and connected by anadjustable link 17 to the actuator L.

It is obvious from a comparison of Figures 1 and 2 that the type bar Dwill be moved to substantially the dotted line position of Figure '1before the hooked end 7 of the link 6 comes into engagement with theuniversal bar 1. The subsequent movement of this universal bar from thefull to the dotted line position of Figure 1 will throw the powermechanism into operation and produce a quick movement of the actuator L,which will operate the escapement and ribbon mechanism. Upon furtherdepression of the key F, the link 7 will swing the universal bar 1forwardly, and this bar through the me dium of the link 10 will rock thebell crank lcver 11, 14 and thereby release the stop lever 23 from itslocking engagement withthe cam X. The cam X, through its frictionalcontactwith the power operated and constantly rotating roller Y, will berotated and thereby swing the operating or bell crank lever 15. The bellcrank lever 15 will then swing` the actuator L forwardly to effeet anoperation of the ribbon mechanism and an operation of the escapementmechanism in sequence. The operation of the parts is so timed that theribbon will be rst thrown into proper position, and the escapementoperated immediately thereafter. Since the power mechanism isdisconnected from the actuator L immediately, regardless of Whether thekey lever F is released or not, and since the type bar D will return tothe dotted line position of Figure 1, whether the key lever F isreleased or not, it is obvious that the escapement and ribbon mechanismsare permitted to return to normal position very quickly andindependently of the speed with which the key lever is permitted toreturn to normal position.

In the form shown in Figures 1 and 2, the actuator L and frame 1 arepivoted on different axes. The modification shown in Figures 3 and 4discloses a form which is somewhat more compact, since the actuator andthe universal bar are supported from a single shaft and turn about thesame axis. The same reference numerals have been applied to` thismodification, where they are applicable.

In this form a rock shaft l supports the arms of the actuator L and alsoarms 19, which are connected to or integral with a universal bar 20`which corresponds to the universal bar 1 of the first form. Fast to thebar 2O is a dcwnwardly projecting arm 2l to which is connected a tinkiti. It is obvious that the actuator the universal means? bar may turnwith its supporting arms about the shaft 18 independently of the other.It is also apparent that this construction is somewhat more compact andsimple than the form illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, although theoperation and fundamental principle are the same.

The present invention enables the power mechanism to be installed muchmore simply than in the usual machine, wherein a separate power unit isnecessary for each type key. A machine equipped with the'prcsentinvention needs only a single unit for the whole key board, a power unitfor the back space mechanism, one for the carriage return, and anotherfor the platen shift. All operations which really call for the exertionof power on the part of the operator are thus performed mechanically,and the type action alone is moved by the manual operation of the keylevers.

Although in the modification shown in the drawings the link 6 isconnected to the heel of the type bar, it is obvious that it may beconnected to the link I or other point of the type action since it isonly necessary that it be operated directly from such type action. Itmay be further noted that although the present construction employs anactuator L which is normally present in the standard Royal machine,nevertheless the particular form of this element can be modified sinceit is only necessary that its actuation shall operate the escapement andribbon mechanism at the propertime and in the proper sequence. The termactuator in the claims should, therefore, be understood when referringto the member L as covering any equivalent member which is operated fromthe source of power but controlled by the actuation of any of the typekeys.

It is apparent that various modificationsl in the precise form andarrangement of the parts may be made without in any way departing fromthe spirit of the invention. The drawings are therefore to be consideredmerely as illustrative, and the invention is to be regarded as limitedonly by the scope' of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a typewriting machine embodying a type action, an actuator andescapement mechanism and ribbon mechanism operated thereby; thecombination of key levers for operating said type action, a universalbar, a link connected to the type action and having lost motionconnection with the universal bar, power operated devices renderedeffective by the movement of the universal bar, and connections fromsaid power operated devices to the actuator.

2, In a typewriting machine embodying a type action including a pivotedtype bar, an actuator, and ribbon mechanism and escapement mechanismoperated in sequence thereby, the combination of key levers foroperating the type action, a universal bar, a link connected to the typebar and having lost motion connection with the universal bar, poweroperated devices rendered effective by the movement of the universalbar, and connections from said power operated devices to the actuator.

3. In a typewriting machine embodying a type action, an actuator andescapement mechanism and ribbon mechanism operated thereby, thecombination of key levers for operating said type action, a universalbar controlled by the operation of the type action, power operateddevices includinga rotary actuating element and a normally inactivelever adapted to be operated thereby, means operated upon movement ofthe universal bar to move said lever into active relation with saidrotary actuating` element, and connections between said lever and theactuator.

4. In a typewriting machine embodying a type action, an actuator andescapement mechanism and ribbon mechanism operated thereby,ithecombination of key levers for operating said type action, a universalbar controlled by the operation of the type wction, power operateddevices including a rotary shaft,.a normally inactive cam adapted to berotated by said shaft, and means for locking said cam against rotation,Imeans operated by the universal bar for releasing said locking means,and means operated -by said cam for moving said actuator.

5. In a typewriting machine embodying a type action, an actuator andescapement mechanism and ribbon mechanism operated thereby, thecombination of key levers for operating said type action, a universalbar controlled by the operation of the type action, power operateddevices including a rotary shaft, a roller fixed thereon, an operatinglever, a cam journaled on said operating lever and engageable with saidroller, and a stop lever normally engageable with said cam for retainingthe same against movement, connections between the stop lever and theuniversalbar fork releasing the former from the cam upon movement of thelatter, and connections between said operating l'ever and lsaidactuator.

6. In a typewriting machine embodying a type action, an actuator andescapement mechanism and ribbon mechanism operated thereby, thecombination of key levers for operating said type action, a universalbar, a link connected to the type action and having lost motionconnection with the universal bar, power operated devices including arotary actuating element and a normally inactive lever adapted to beoperated thereby, means operated upon movement of the universal bar toVmove said lever into active relation with said rotary actuatingelement, and connections between said lever and the actuator.

In testimony whereof, I have'hereunto subscribed my name.

LEWIS C. MYERS.

